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Our free and fast tool will convert most 3D mesh or 3DM (Rhinoceros 3D) model files to a standard PLY (Stanford Triangle Format) file that can then be edited further in most popular 3D editing packages such as Blender or 3D printed without any further processing. Our conversion tool can also batch convert multiple 3DM files; up to 25 files at a time can be converted.
To convert your 3DM file, click the Upload button above and select the file to convert. Once selected, the file will be converted to a PLY file and will be ready for download shortly afterwards. For more information about the 3DM to PLY conversion process, see the conversion information section below.
| Extension | 3DM |
| Full Name | Rhinoceros 3D |
| Type | 3D Model |
| Mime Type | x-world/x-3dmf |
| Format | Binary |
| Tools | 3DM Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create 3DM Animation, 3DM Asset Extractor, 3DM Viewer |
The 3DM format, also known as Rhino3D or Rhinoceros 3D, is a 3D graphics model file format developed and used in CAD applications, industrial design, and 3D printing. The format has some compatibility with Adobe Illustrator and can be exported as an AI file using vector graphics.
Although it is a 3D file format, it stores data in the NURBS geometry format, which allows for greater mathematical precision compared to triangle or polygon-based mesh geometry formats such as STL. Along with support for converting between other CAD formats, the 3DM format can also support two different scripting languages.
If your 3DM file contains textures, these will be ignored. If a material contains color information, this will be translated where possible.
| Extension | PLY |
| Full Name | Stanford Triangle Format |
| Type | 3D Model/Point Cloud |
| Mime Type | application/octet-stream |
| Format | Text & Binary |
| Tools | PLY Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create PLY Animation, Compress PLY, Text to PLY, PLY Viewer |
| Open With | Blender, MeshLab |
The PLY format is a 3D model format originally developed and released in 1994, with its primary use being to store three-dimensional data from 3D digital scanners. The format known as the Polygon File Format or the Stanford Triangle Format can be either a binary or text-based format.
The file format stores 3D geometric information such as vertices, faces, vertex normals, color, and other custom data. The format is still in use, with many PLY models available to download, and PLY files can be loaded into most popular 3D applications, such as Blender.
PLY files support per-vertex color information. If your uploaded model contains color information, our tool will attempt to save this in the PLY file at the end of the conversion process.
Converting from the 3DM file format to PLY can be a complex process, and any tool used for this conversion process needs to be able to handle a variety of data conversion tasks as well as identify any defects within the 3D model and fix them. Here we will explain the conversion process used by our tool to accurately convert your 3DM file to a valid PLY 3D model. Let's start with the conversion process, which involves the following steps:
In its simplest form, an 3DM file is a binary data file containing 3D data such as vertices, faces, normals, and more. When combined, these make up the 3D model you see on your screen.
For more information regarding the 3DM file format, please see this great article that goes into a lot of detail explaining the 3DM format.
With the 3DM file data read, our tool generates an internal representation of the full 3D model and will attempt to fix any geometry issues encountered. Along with repairing any issues with the 3D model, the tool will remove any duplicated vertices and prepare the model for exporting to the PLY format.
With the conversion process entering its final stages, our tool now needs to take the in-memory 3D model we have created in step 2 and convert it to the PLY format.
The PLY file generated by our tool will be in the binary little endian format.
Yes! Our 3DM tool supports full batch conversions. You can upload up to 25 and 3DM files at a time. Our tool will convert them all as quickly as possible. Once completed, you can either download the PLY files individually or download them all in a single ZIP file.
First click the "Upload..." button, select your 3DM file to upload. Select any configuration options. When the 3DM to PLY conversion has completed, you can download your PLY file straight away.
We aim to process all 3DM to PLY conversions as quickly as possible, this usually takes around 5 seconds but can be more for larger more complex files so please be patient.
We aim to create the most accurate conversions with our tools. Our tools are under constant development with new features and improvements being added every week.
Yes, of course! We do not store the 3DM file you submit to us. The resulting PLY file, once created, is stored for 1 hour after upload; after this time it is deleted, and the short-term download link will stop working. You can create a long-term download Url with most tools that will ensure the file is retained for 24 hours, allowing you to download the file when convenient. Our tools also come with a Delete button, allowing you to delete the file immediately.
No. All our conversion tools process your 3DM file on our dedicated conversion servers, meaning you can use our tools on low-spec computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices and receive your converted PLY file quickly.
Yes! Our 3DM to PLY tool will run on any system with a modern web browser. No specialist software is needed to run any of our conversion tools.
Yes. Although you can use an Ad Blocker, if you like our 3DM conversion tool please consider white-listing our site. When an Ad Blocker is enabled there are some conversion limits on some of our tools and processing/conversion times will be longer.
Yes. When you have converted your 3DM to PLY, there is a "Feedback" option that you can use to let us know of any issues you encountered when converting your file.
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